Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-31
HOUSE-CLEANING.
Few Timely Hints Regarding This Fast APP
prorching Duty.
Good Housekeeping.

Few Timely Hints Regarding This Fast APP
prorehing Duty.
Good Housekeeping
Shall we nave thorough house-clean-
ing in the Spring and Fall, or only at
one of these seasons? If at only one,
which is the most advisable time? The
first question l answer in the negative,
deciding promptly from my own exser-
fence, and from the same standpoint l
give the verdict in favor of Spring as the
best season for thorough work in this
direction. Nature, in her Orde rly work,
sets US good example in this, as in
many other of her arrangements. The
March winds, although so chilly and pen
etrating, blow off the old leaves from the
trees, and the loose, light rubbish into
hOllows and bitches. Then come the
April showers to soften and wash off
what the wind has not removed, and by
its gentle disintergrating force, to pre-
pare the soil that the tender seedlings
and roots May be able to find their way
to warmth and light. Many animals and
insects have this regular Spring clean
ing. The bees clean their hives as COM
pletely as any New England houskee per.
In Spring we feel, stirring through all
our veins, the same impulse to be at
work which we see manifested in all OPP
erations of outdoor life. We should now
open all our doors and windows, and let
into our rooms the purifying influence
of air and sunlight, removing by brush,
and the solvent power af alkalies and
water, the dust which furnaces and
stoves, in spite of our weekly cleaning,
have sifted into crevices and corners.
Mattresses and oedclothing, which the
cold and storms of Winter would not
allow US to fully expose to the sun and
air, should now be put, on a sunny day,
entirely outside, that these purifying
agents may penetrate through them.
The fresh and sweet smell which they
will thus receive and give out will amply
reward Us for the extra work. No cor
ner from the cellar to the attic, should
escape the sharp eyes of the good house
keeper.
How shall all this necessary work be ac-
complished without oyertaxing the mental
and physical strength? No housekeeper
should, If she can possibly avoid it, let
her labors, even in this important bust
ness of house cleaning, use up her store
of vital force. No amount of cleanliness
will atone for this loss She should
always bear in mind that there should be
no conflict of duties, that good house
keeping requires that she should keep
her health unimpaired, and be able to
preside over her home with cheerful
equanimity. She should never undertake
to accomplish more in one day than can
be done with ease and pleasure. have no
sympathy with that foolish rivalry of
trying to see which, in a neighborhood,
shall first finish house cleaning. I have
heard some women boast that on the first
week IN March their houses were all in
order, No woman should indulge the
thought that what she is doing is
drudgery, but that, like her great ex-
mpler-Nature, she is performing re
lining and elevating process.
The sun, the air, the budding trees,
the gentle rain, the sweet flowers, are all
teaching US lessons in obedience, not to
one alone, but to all laws; that violation
of physical DEGREES, even in necessary
work, will certainly be followed by the
penalty affixed. The glad Summer should
find US strong in body and mind to enjoy
all the rich feast of the charms of nature
which are spread SO lavishly before US.
A young friend said to me, while the
white mantle of winter still covered the
ground
ooh. begin as spring approaches, to
worry about house cleaning!"
This, I answered, is wrong; in this you
should try and practice the art Of forget
ting. Enjoy and make good use Of your
present opportunities that, when the
proper time comes, you will have the
strength to take up this work with pleas
ure.
It is great mistake to upset many or
all the rooms of the house at once. 1t is
this which has caused the men of the
homes in which this is the practice to re-
gard cleaning house as a dreaded visi-
tation.
Only what work can bo finished in the
forenoon should be attempted. For the
remainder of the day let the subject be
tabooed, and the power according to one
of our great authors, ''the grandest of
which human nature is capable" be exer-
cised of putting it aside, and reserving a
fund of stength foraathe emergencies for
the coming day.
Every one should have an interest in
something entirely away from the line of
the mornings work, which Nil prove a
quiet and interesting retreat of rest
reading, culture of flowers, topics of gen
eral interest, anything which will lead the
thoughts into an entirely different chan
mel. Without such refuge one will always |
be in danger of becoming a mere house
keeper and nothing else. Such a woman |
will Ose all freshness and vitality, and
will soon be known as a tiresOme woman,
never talking but of her work. kitchen
and servant. We should guard against be- |
coming bores in anything.